The 2016 Multiversity Gift Guide

If you’re anything like us, gift buying is both a joyous and a terrifying process. We love nailing a person’s birthday or Christmas gift, but live in constant fear that we’re boring gift givers. Well, we at Multiversity are here to help! Need something for that special someone in your life? Here are some gifts that we think would please any comics fan (and some that aren’t comic related at all!).

For all items that don’t have a hyperlink in their price, there is a link to buy these items through our Amazon Affiliate store at the bottom of this post.

If you have any particularly cool gift ideas, leave them in the comments!

Mark Tweedale

“Star Wars: Ralph McQuarrie Artbook” ($161.36 retail)
This deluxe hardcover artbook collection is the sort of gift that says, ‘There is no one on Earth that loves you more than me.’ Ralph McQuarrie’s work defines the visual style of Star Wars, and this collection includes hundreds of drawings, all scanned and photgraphed for this collection, some never seen before. There’re conceptual paintings, costume designs, storyboards, matte paintings, posters, book and album covers… Just be warned that in giving this gift, you’re probably not going to see the giftee for a few days—they’ll be immersed for a while.

Agent Carter – Season 2 ($31.39 retail)
For the Agent Carter fan in your life. This isn’t available in the US yet for whatever reason, but bless those Brits, this blu-ray isn’t region locked. And while you’re importing, you might as well pick up some other cool stuff too, like Sherlock – Series 4 (also region free).

Star Wars – Episode VII: The Force Awakens Collector’s Edition ($32.96 retail)
If there’s a pain any Star Wars fan is intimately acquainted with, it’s double dipping. And triple dipping. Also quadruple and quintuple dipping. So if you can spare them the pain of having to rebuy The Force Awakens just to get all those special features that should have been in the first goddamned release, do it.

“Mike Mignola’s The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects: Artist’s Edition” ($100.00 retail)
This is my Mignolaversity recommendation. If you’re familiar with IDW’s artist’s editions, you know they are truly splendid to behold. This collects everything from the original Dark Horse hardcover, plus a few other stories (like “Rusty Razorclam”) and a bunch of pin-ups and covers. I cannot recommend this enough.

“The Sixth Gun – Volume Three” ($59.99 retail)
Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt’s “The Sixth Gun” came to an end this year, and what a hell of an end it was! Now the whole series is being collected in six deluxe hardcover volumes. The third volume is the latest. Personally, I recommend the Gunslinger edition. That’s what I have and it is beautiful! Both volumes include an interview with series colorist Bill Crabtree, 2013’s “A Christmas Story” short story, a cover gallery, and a sketch gallery. Oni Press has done an incredible job with these books. They’re the sort of thing you’ll enthusiastically show to any guest that pops over (believe me, I speak from experience).

Leo Johnson

“Limbo” TPB ($14.99 retail) – “Limbo” was one of my very favorite comics of the last year or so. I’d never heard of Dan Watters or Caspar Wijngaard before this book, but I promise you that I will keep an eye on everything they do from here on out. While Watters’ story is a lot of fun and has some really inventive ideas and characters (the Teleshaman, anyone?), it’s Wijngaard’s art that really sticks out. There’s a simplicity to a lot of the character designs that make them instantly recognizable, but also really visually appealing. Plus, those gorgeous colors throughout the whole book. This book is exactly what an Image book should be – something surprising, original, and wholly enjoyable. Get the comic fan in your life this trade, or even anyone who’s just a fan of stuff like 80s movies, noir, or crime stories.

“Manifest Destiny” trades (starting at $9.99 retail) – I gush about this book every month in the CSBC column, but this is seriously such a good book, y’all. It’s a Skybound book, so I imagine at some point it’ll get turned into a movie or TV show or something, and that would be awesome. It’s a great blend of history fiction and just out and out fantasy insanity. Over the course of four volumes, the Corps of Discovery encounter buffalotaur, giant frog monsters, zombie plant people, an intelligent avian species, cyclopean sasquatches, and more. We even get to see a fictionalized version of Meriwether Lewis stab a giant frog to death. It’s a weird book, but it’s perfect for a history buff you know or just anyone who likes weird fantasy stories.

The Hike ($26.00 retail) – This isn’t comics, but I feel like I would be doing you all a disservice leaving this off. Drew Magary writes for sites like Deadspin and GQ, and is a Chopped Champion, so he has plenty of interesting stuff to say, and “The Hike” is one of the more unique novels I read this year. It’s a fun, bizarre story that is very much a fantasy odyssey, but also somehow deeply personal. I don’t know, guys, just give it a read.

“Space-Mullet” Vol. 1 TPB ($17.99 retail) – Back in 2014, I wrote a thing about how someone just needed to collect “Space-Mullet” already and publish a nice trade of it. Maybe Dark Horse heard my wishes or, more likely, they already knew how dope Daniel Warren Johnson was and were already planning on making this happen because “Space-Mullet” finally saw print earlier this year. Definitely get this for a sci-fi fan you know or anyone who likes awesome webcomics or anyone who just really likes comics. The love Dan has for this story and characters really shows.

Ken Godberson III

The Art of Dishonored 2 ($49.99 retail)

Okay, not a comic-related item per se, but Dishonored 2 was, while not unflawed, one of the best games of 2016 and a big part of that was the world. The windpunk port city of Karnaca held so many juicy tidbits and an attention to detail very rarely seen and Dark Horse’s art book just further expands on it. If you have a loved one who loves the series like I do, grab this for them.

Crunchyroll Subscription ($6.95 a month)

This is a service I wish I had taken more advantage of. Crunchyroll is a streaming and archiving service that has a plethora of anime and manga, including Fullmetal Alchemist, Attack on Titan and the incredibly, impossibly, I-Cannot-Believe-This-Managed-To-Work Yuri!!! On Ice. While a great deal of it is free, you also have to deal with nearly browser-freezing ads, so why not flip the bill for an anime-loving friend or relative for a month or six. Then they can come to me and Jessica and talk about how an ice skating anime ruined our lives.

Bloodborne: Complete Edition ($49.99 retail)

Listen to me. Listen well. Bloodborne is the best video game of the current generation. From Software took the combat formula they created in Dark Souls and perfected it here with an emphasis on speed without losing any of the methodicalness. On top of that, they created a world steeped in dread and foreboding. I felt more life in the dying Yharnam than I ever felt running around Skyrim’s physically large but ultimately shallow landscapes. The complete collection also comes with The Old Hunters DLC which further emphasizes the greatness of this send-up to classic Lovecraft. Bear in mind: this is a digital-only version so if you’re more into physical media, then there is a physical version cheaper, but without The Old Hunters.

“Monstress” Vol. 1, “The Autumnalnds” Vol. 1, or “East of West” (>$9.99 each retail)

Three very different titles from Image. All three being great. But they have one big aspect in common: their world building. Whether it’s the magipunk alternative Asia in “Monstress”, the anthropomorphized fantasy world of “Autumnlands” or the weird sci-fi western “East of West”, these three books have added so much detail to their worlds that they truly feel like living things.

“Monster” Vol. 1: The Perfect Edition ($19.99 retail)

Naoki Urasawa’s thriller/morality play “Monster” is one of my favorite manga of all time. Neurosurgeon Kenzo Tenma saves the life of a young boy who goes on to become the titular Monster. So begins Kenzo’s journey to stop Johan Liebert (in my opinion, one of the scariest villains in comics) while meeting quite the eclectic cast of characters and examining such questions as to whether or not we have the right to take the life of another and just how much we can take as humans before we break. Dark. Very dark. But a great one.

Paul Lai

DC Board Books by David Katz, Julie Merberg, Morris Katz (Downtown BookWorks) (Assorted prices, boxed set $45.99 retail)

If there’s a preschool kid on your holiday list that you’re looking to indoctrinate into your superhero fandom, can I recommend these DC board books? My five year old daughter was at the comic shop with me, lingering around the All-Ages shelf. She’s read plenty of comics drawn in the contemporary animation styles, post-anime, post-My Little Pony, post-Bruce Timm Batman, and she enjoys those plenty. But she just couldn’t take her eyes off of these DC board books for some reason, even though they had no story substance (what she usually goes for) and were way beneath her reading level. What was the attraction? The classically gorgeous, largely uncredited (Jose Luis Garcia Lopez?) model sheet art adorning these books. The messages are pretty positive, the ABCs are the ABCs, but the allure of that iconic style of DC art…. how could we withhold the gift of that four-color splendor?

Jess Camacho

Star Wars Black Squadron Poe Helmet Inspired Dome Satchel ($40.00 retail)

Are you shopping for a friend, partner, mom, aunt, daughter or sister and not sure what to get? Get them this. Not only is it geeky but it’s also functional and those are the best kinds of presents. I own a bag similar to this with a Boba Fett design and it is honestly my favorite bag to use. You can’t go wrong with this if they’re a Star Wars fan, especially if they also a crush on everyone’s favorite space boyfriend, Poe Dameron.

Assorted Funko Pops ($11.00-$20.00 retail)

This is the third year I’m including this on our gift guide but it really is the perfect go to, small item when you don’t know what else to get that picky fan. Everyone likes cute toys and now there are more to choose from than ever before. There is a Funko Pop for literally everyone. No, really, I think they’ve produced enough for every one in the world.

The Wicked + The Divine: Year One ($35.00 retail)

One of my favorite things happening at Image the last couple of years are these oversized, deluxe hardcover editions. This book comes with the first eleven issues of the series, every variant cover, behind the scenes goodies, script pages and much, much more. This year, get the comic fan in your life one of the best ongoing series going right now with this beautiful hardcover. Or buy it for me, I’m accepting gifts.

Vince Ostrowsi

NES Classic ($59.99 retail, but good luck finding it)

So these are sold out and aren’t going to technically be “available” before the holidays, except in random releases to retailers that you basically have to be extremely lucky to run into. You could call retailers every morning to see if they got a new shipment in until they start screening your calls and not answering. You could also wander from store to store hoping to be in the right place at the right time, but this could drive you mad. In fact, I myself started seeing Tim Curry in clown makeup calling to me from a sewer drainage. If you don’t mind paying 3-5x the retail price, you could get one from ebay or Amazon Marketplace. Whatever you choose to do or not do, this is one of the best geek gifts this holiday season, bar none. It’s 30 NES games, pre-installed on a mini-NES console and compatible with your HDTV. They even have a setting that makes your HDTV look like a CRT, in case you want a mindtrip back to the ’80s.

What does this have to do with comic books? Well, uh, there were some Mario comics once.

DC Comics Coloring Books ($15.99 retail)

I guess Adult Coloring Books have been a “thing” for a minute or two, recently? I don’t know if this is what #Adulting is supposed to be, or if this is just the next step on the devolutionary infantilization of humanity, but I’m not arguing with it. I fucking love coloring. Whether it’s to “de-stress” after a certain somebody’s inauguration happens in January or because your wife left you for being horny online, adult coloring books are here to help. DC Comics has put out a bunch of these, and they’re pretty decent. I mean, they’re mostly pages and pin-ups that we’ve all seen, but now they’re in an extremely disposable, colorable black & white form. Search around and find your favorite one.

Matt Garcia

Trilogía de Guillero del Toro Criterion Collection Blu-Ray ($65.20 retail)

Guillermo del Toro is great, and his Spanish-language movies remain his best work. This set includes Cronos, The Devil’s Backbone, and Pan’s Labyrinth in a gorgeous box that’s like a puzzle in and of itself. Not only that, but there’s an introduction by Neil Gaiman and art from Becky Cloonan, Mike Mignola, and Guy Davis. The films themselves are stellar, and there’s an interesting path we see as del Toro moves from figuring out everything else with Cronos to damn near achieving perfection with Pan’s Labyrinth.

Subscription to Filmstruck ($10.99 a month or $99.00 a year)

TCM and Criterion are teaming up to launch their own streaming service, specializing in classic and cult film. Let’s face it, many comics readers are also avid movie watchers. Both, after all, are narrative mediums using visuals as a substantial mode of delivery. And with the commentaries, special features, and essays, there’s plenty of stuff here to enrich your engagement to stories. There’s a $6.99 option, but that’s only for the TCM stuff. The richest parts are with the Criterion Collection addition.

”Wonder Woman: The Golden Age Omnibus” Volume 1 ($75.00 retail)

Oversized, filled with some wonderful Marston comics, and a great artifact of the Amazing Amazon, the stories in this collection cover the first Wonder Woman appearances. They’re as wild as Golden Age comics can get, but filled with an energy and dynamism you don’t see as much anymore. It’s great that not only is DC finally giving Wonder Woman her due, but also going above and beyond while doing so.

”Bone” ($39.95 retail)

Because everyone should own a copy of “Bone”. Or two copies. Also, you could give it to literally anybody and they’d find something to love and admire in it.

Harry Potter Complete Boxed Set Years 1-7 ($86.93 retail)

Because Harry.
Although make sure you get the Mary GrandPré covers and not the Kazu Kibuishi ones. The Kibuishi ones are . . . not good. GrandPré’s are perfect.

A Donation to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (Your choice, don’t be cheap)

For the collector who has everything, maybe help make sure they keep getting new and exciting comics. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund not only helps protect comics and cartoons in court, but they educate, spotlight, and advocate the medium as much as possible. Getting involved may be more beneficial, not to mention altruistic, than trying to figure out if the person you’re gifting this for has two or three copies of whatever Moebius book you’re looking at.

Alice W. Castle

“The Legend of Wonder Woman” Vol. 1: Origins ($29.99 retail)

Wonder Woman has been talked about a lot this year, from her first live action film appearance in Batman V. Superman: Dawn Of Justice to the look ahead at her first solo outing in film coming next year to the relaunch of her comic by Greg Rucka, Liam Sharp and Nicola Scott. It’s been a good year for the princess of Themyscira.

However, perhaps the best story told about her is one most overlooked. “The Legend Of Wonder Woman” was a digitial first comic by Renae De Liz and Ray Dillion and, yes, it may have been another retelling of Diana’s origin (which we got a lot of this year), but it’s perhaps the freshest and most engaging and, best of all, least bloodthirsty depiction of Wonder Woman I’ve seen in years.

“Black Panther:” A Nation Under Our Feet Book 1 ($16.99 retail)

Likewise, it’s been a huge year for Black Panther. Often languishing as a side character only dedicated readers really know, King T’challa of Wakanda has finally gotten his share of the spotlight thanks to a scene stealing role in Captain America: Civil War and this: the first volume of the series by Ta-Nehisi Coates and Brian Stelfreeze.

It’s a complex, morally ambiguous, tense and engaging comic that largely eschews generic superhero trappings for a blend of political and family drama with some science fiction and action and even fantasy for a grand epic of a tale that is the perfect introduction to the character. Seriously, this should be in the hands of every comic reader this holiday season.

World of Warcraft: Chronicle Volume 1 ($39.99 retail)

The first of two Dark Horse books I’m recommending that aren’t technically comics, but are more reference books for properties in other media. “World Of Warcraft: Chronicle” is an illustrated guide through history of Warcraft and it’s various world. With the live action movie released earlier this year (regardless of whether you loved it or hated it) and a new expansion as well the card game spinoff, Heathstone, really picking up steam, this has been a big year for the franchise.

Likely you know someone who’s feeling the itch or has been completely drawn back into World Of Warcraft and this book is a perfect way to feed into that addiction while actually drawing them away from the computer for an hour or two to actually read it.

Not to mention a second volume dropping early next year and a lot of people will be diving back into Azeroth.

The Legend Of Zelda: Arts & Artifacts ($39.99 retail)

The spiritual successor to “The Legend Of Zelda: Hyrule Historia”, the new team up between Nintendo and Dark Horse is this look at the stunning art from The Legend Of Zelda throughout the years. Zelda is a game series famous for having gorgeous art and design that varies from game to game, covering a wide variety of fantasy styles.

This is perfect for the video game and/or Nintendo and/or just art in general lover in your life and if “Hyrule Historia” was any indication, this is going to have fantastic production quality.

Dungeons & Dragons: Player’s Handbook, 5th Edition ($49.95 retail)

Tabletop RPGs are back in a huge way. They were a staple of geekdom back in the late 80s/early 90s (ie before I was born), but eventually just kind of died out. Obviously, not completely, but they became increasingly insular and niche as many childhood players fell out of favour with the hobby.

Thankfully, being into nerdy shit is cool now so all the shit people got bullied about in trite 80s movies is making a comeback, largely through actual play podcasts like The Adventure Zone, One-Shot, Hello From The Magic Tavern and Campaign. Leading the charge is the 5th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, which overhauled a very intricate, combat-focused system to bring the roleplaying back into RPGs and make building characters and worlds fun again.

There are a million and a half RPG systems out there and I almost recommended Fantasy Flight’s Star Wars range because I’m me, but I think Dungeons & Dragons is easily the best way for you and your friends to get into (or get back into) roleplaying.

Robbie Pleasant

Munchkin: Marvel Edition ($24.95 retail)

Marvel comics are all about heroes coming together to fight fearsome foes for the good of the world. Munchkin is all about beating up any enemies in your way, betraying your friends, getting the most loot and levels, and occasionally cheating (without getting caught). But Munchkin is also known for plenty of tie-in versions (Including Adventure Time and The Nightmare Before Christmas) so tossing Marvel in makes perfect sense.

The players are SHIELD agents who can team up with various heroes from the Marvel universe, grab armor and weapons, and fight against whatever bad guys the deck throws at you. Of course, bargaining with your fellow players then sabotaging them later down the line is all par for the course with Munchkin as well. It’s a fun game no matter what form it takes, and comic fans will enjoy all the parts of the Marvel mythos being drawn into the game.

If you like that, there are also two expansions, “Mystic Mayhem” and “Cosmic Chaos,” at $19.95 each, which add new locations, magic heroes, and spacefaring foes, to expand the game further.

Super Hero Miniatures from Knight Models (prices vary by set)

If you’re an avid tabletop gamer like I am, you may find that there’s no such thing as too many miniatures, and it’s rarely the exact one that you need. If you want to make a Vigilante-class character in “Pathfinder” that’s just like Batman, or a dual-wielding Fighter in “Dungeons & Dragons” based off Deadpool, the minis you find may not be quite right. That’s where Knight Models comes in, with miniature games set in the Marvel and DC universes, with unpainted metal figures for you to work with.

The games themselves are plenty of fun, and can be expanded to include more and more characters with the various expansions. However, I personally like to buy the miniatures themselves so I can paint them and add them into my own ongoing tabletop RPG stories. They don’t exactly run cheap, and you will have to paint and assemble them yourself, but putting them together is half the fun. You can also download the rulebook for free on the Knight Models website to see if it’s something you’d like to try, or if you’d rather, you can just plop Doctor Doom down into Barovia as the new ruler of Castle Ravenloft (sorry, Strahd).

Discworld Roleplaying Game ($39.95 retail)

The late great Sir Terry Pratchett created an amazing, humorous, fantasy world in “Discworld,” and with the tabletop roleplaying game, it’s possible to join in it yourself. This is the latest version, updated for the 4th edition GURPS system, but it draws in material from previous editions and supplements into a single book (upon hearing that, my wallet sighed in relief, knowing I wouldn’t have to purchase multiple books just to run a game).

It includes settings well-known and loved by fans of the “Discworld” series, characters and archetypes familiar to readers. While it’s still only available for pre-order, it’s hard not to look forward to taking a trip to Ankh-Morpork and seeing adventures around the disc, particularly on a game system as well established as GURPS.

Drew Bradley

“Radioactive Man:” Radioactive Repository Volume One ($25.99 retail)

Bongo’s “Simpson” comics are always a safe bet for fun comics, but “Radioactive Man” stands out among their offerings for the additional layer of satire it contains. This hardcover collects the original six-issue miniseries from 1993, plus the 80-page giant. When they were released, each issue was billed as a “reprint” from the series’ “long past.” This gimmick allowed writer Steve Vance and artist Bill Morrison to present a compact version of comic history, highlighting the ups and downs of the industry through time. Each issue is set in a different decade and spoofs the popular tropes of the era, but like all great parodies the stories will entertain readers who don’t get all the jokes.

Museum Edition Comic Book POD ($28.95 retail)

Regardless of taste or collection size, every comic reader has a favorite piece of cover art. Therefore, the perfect gift for the hard-to-shop-for fan in your life must be this gorgeous museum-quality frame. It’s made from a single piece of wood (no seams!) and has a beautiful powdercoat finish. The acetate insert protects the comic from dust and light damage. The display area is just *barely* smaller than a standard comic, which means the spine and edges of the pages won’t be visible once it’s hung. And the best part? Even if your recipient already has one of these, they can always use another.

Brian Salvatore

Captain Marvel Shazam T-Shirt ($11.00-$24.00 retail) – One of my favorite DC heroes is the criminally underused Captain Marvel or, as he’s currently called, Shazam. One of the best aspects of his look is the simplicity of his logo, which is as iconic and wonderful as any in comics (and, also one of the most aped). If you’re more of an evil dude, the Black Adam shirt is equally dope.

Godzilla’s Revenge DVD ($9.99 retail) – I loved Shin Godzilla, but it is far from my sentimental favorite kaiju film. Godzilla’s Revenge is a sad story about a latch key kid who imagines himself not as the outcast he appears to be, but a part of Godzilla’s world, friend with his son ______, and an important part of something, as he feels just the opposite at home. Sure, it is cheesy and has recycled footage, but it’s a unique film in the Godzilla canon. Plus, check out Ishiro’s short shorts – that’s a good look.

The Thrawn Triolgy by Timothy Zahn ($7.55 each retail) – As the character makes its way onto Star Wars: Rebels, get the original Admiral Thrawn story, as told in Timothy Zahn’s trilogy, which is among the most important of the original Extended Universe Star Wars stories. It’s all here: Mara Jade, the Solo twins, Tallon Karde, “Dark” Jedis – this was the closest thing us old school fans got to more Star Wars films after Return of the Jedi. And while these are now non-canon, it says a lot about how important these books are that Thrawn is being reworked into continuity, both on TV and in a new book, simply titled “Thrawn,” by Zahn himself next year.

“God is Disappointed in You”/”Apocrypha Now” Slipcase Edition ($27.02 retail) I’m the (I think) rare comics journalist with a degree in theology, so this is perfectly suited for me. Funny, well-researched, and featuring some great illustrations.

“Super Weird Heroes:Outrageous But Real!” ($34.99 retail) – Yoe Books does incredibly work with their books (an opinion co-signed by Mark Hamill), and this is no different. A lovingly curated collection of bonkers Golden Age comics, featuring some characters that fans may recognize (like Catman or Bullet Girl) and many that go completely over my head (Kismet, Man of Fate? The Deacon?) from a similarly varied list of creators, including Superman’s creators, Jerry Siegel and Joel Schuster. The quality is up and down, but this is a fascinating look at the other side of the Golden Age, not of classic characters getting their starts, but of the less successful cousins of Batman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern.

Dice for Roll Playing Games ($24.99 retail) – For the price of a night at the movies, get enough dice to staff your entire local RPG night.

Blackstar by David Bowie on vinyl ($33.95 retail) – The world lost a real-life superhero this year in David Bowie. His story is just as unbelievable as any comic book character’s; enjoy his swan song.

Zach Wilkerson

Stephen King’s “The Dark Tower” Series ($147.99 retail)

My road to the Tower was a long one, beginning almost 10 years ago when I picked up “The Gunslinger” for the first time. This year, in preparation for the upcoming film, I mainlined books four through seven of this series and became absolutely enamored. In my opinion, few stories are as engaging, rewarding, or mesmerizing as this one. Regardless of how the film turns out, this is a story any fan of comics and genre fiction should check out.

“DC Universe: Rebirth” Deluxe Edition ($17.99 retail)

Rebirth has arguably been the best thing to happen to DC, and possibly cape comics in general, in the past decade. What better way to introduce someone, or to reindulge, than with this overpriced deluxe edition of the terrific single issue that kick off Rebirth?

Crunchyroll Subscription ($6.95 a month)

I subscribe to pretty much all the major streaming services, but none of them offer the value of Crunchyroll. For $6.95/month you get access to dozens of simulcast anime (Dragon Ball Super!), a large back catalogue of HD anime and live-action dramas, and a library of manga including the likes of “Attack on Titan,” “Seven Deadly Sins,” and “Fairy Tail.”

Please help support the site by buying these via our Amazon Affiliate store through the links below.